There is no more exciting time for a gamer than when new consoles are announced.

The new generation of gaming kicked off last year with the release of the Wii U. The 2013 holiday season will likely see the release of two more new systems -- one from Sony and one from Microsoft.

With the Wii U appealing largely to a niche of Nintendo fans, the coming battle between the PlayStation and Xbox factions looks to be the bloodiest.

Sony announced its PlayStation 4 system on Feb. 20. Coming in time for the 2013 holiday season, the PS4 represents a huge technological leap for consoles. Its unveiling gives gamers a good sense of what the future will bring.

I'm disappointed, though, that Sony didn't show the console. The company appears to be keeping certain details, such as the machine's design and price, close to the vest until Microsoft makes its next move.

We were, however, given a look at the new DualShock 4 controller. Slightly larger and heavier than previous controllers, the design will be familiar to PlayStation fans. Some buttons have been redesigned for comfort, including the larger direction pad, concave (rather than convex) thumb sticks and more ergonomic triggers.

A number of new features adorn the compact piece, the most obvious being the touchpad located front and center above the thumb sticks. This creates numerous control possibilities, both in-game and with the console's other features.

Next to the pad, a new "share" button opens a whole new world of social interaction. With one press, players can choose a recent gameplay video to load directly onto social media sites such as Facebook. Allowing players to share video of their accomplishments will spur conversation and competition, while adding buzz for game publishers -- a definite win-win.

Other new controller features include a built-in speaker, a headphone jack and a player designation light. The colored light allows the included PlayStation 4 Eye camera to differentiate between players, much as the colored balls on the PS Move controller does.

The new version of the Eye looks much more like the Microsoft Kinect, featuring dual high-definition cameras and a microphone array. Industry experts expect it to have similar capabilities.

Speaking of the PS Move, this peripheral will be compatible with the PS4, though it looks as if it might be the only one.

Players will not be able to use their old DualShock 3 controllers at all. Furthermore, the PS4 will not be backward compatible. So if you want to keep playing your old game library, you will need to keep your PS3.

The good news is that Sony is open to releasing PS One, PS2 and PS3 games via the system's new cloud-based streaming features.

In 2012, Sony purchased cloud gaming company

Gaikai to enhance its online capabilities. The result allows the PS4 to stream games and, to the relief of many, play purchased games while they are downloading. That's right -- no more waiting for three hours to play your new game!

While the emphasis on downloadable games is increasing, the system will include a Blu-ray drive, and games will be available on disc. Though the new product is rumored to have technology to block used games (and game rentals), Sony says this is not the case -- at least for now.

Other technical specs we know include a processing architecture based on the PC standard. That is, if you put your PC on steroids.

The system will support an 8-core x86-based CPU, an enhanced GPU, a massive 8GB of DDR5 memory (16 times what was in the PS3) and a larger hard drive. Reportedly, it will even have new, high-speed USB 3.0 ports for peripherals.

Finally, PS Vita owners will be pleased to know their handhelds can be used as a second screen, to play PS4 games when your TV is otherwise occupied. The Wii U's biggest trick isn't so exclusive anymore.

Overall, the announcement was very impressive, especially the almost dozen games they showed, including new installments to the "Killzone" and "inFAMOUS" franchises.

Lightning has 5A state title aspirations once againIt was the only home plate the Legacy varsity softball field had ever known, and there it was last Saturday, in its tattered state, dug out of the playing surface and relegated to a lonely, unused existence. Full Story

The Boulder alt-country band gives its EPs names such as Death and Resurrection, and its songs bear the mark of hard truths and sin. But the punk energy behind the playing, and the sense that it's all in good fun, make it OK to dance to a song like "Death." Full Story